EPIC Risk Management renews gambling harm prevention collab with Entain Foundation US & NFLPA PAF

NFL football
Image: Alena Veasey/Shutterstock

EPIC Risk Management has renewed its collaboration with Entain Foundation US and the NFL’s Professional Athletes Foundation to support NFLPA members with gambling harm prevention awareness and education, sports integrity programs, and advisory services.

EPIC, Entain Foundation US and the NFLPA’s partnership initially began in July 2020, and the renewal will see the gambling harm prevention consultancy provide workshops, seminars, events, and customised projects using in-person lived experience facilitators. 

“We are delighted, with the support of the Entain Foundation US, to continue working with the NFLPA PAF in supporting their proactive and holistic approach to prioritising the welfare of the person behind the player,” commented John Millington, Senior Director at EPIC Risk Management.

“As the prevalence of sports wagering continues to increase across the USA – as highlighted by a new projected record $16bn wagered by 50 million Americans on last month’s Super Bowl – the need for pioneering and preventative approaches to raise awareness and minimise the risks of gambling harm also increases.

“Together, we will continue to provide the NFLPA PAF with our full range of gambling harm minimization expertise, so they remain at the forefront of this vital work.”

The service by EPIC and the Entain Foundation US has the potential to be offered to NFLPA members and their immediate support networks throughout the year, subject to the delivery timing.

“Helping our members by educating them on the potential risks of issues such as problem gambling is a vital part of the work we do for our membership,” added Caryl Banks, Senior Professional Athletes Foundation (PAF) Manager at NFLPA.

“Since being the first Players’ Association in the US to partner with EPIC Risk Management, we have been positively reassured by how well we have collaborated to raise awareness around the issue of problem gambling to a statistically more vulnerable demographic.

“We’re looking forward to expanding this relationship further with a commitment to proactive and preventative action for the welfare of our members.

“In EPIC Risk Management, we have continued to partner with an organisation that is not only a market leader in delivering such educational programs but also an organisation that shares our commitment to excellence in athlete welfare.”

The PAF has been serving NFLPA members since 1990, helping over 13,000 members achieve post-football success with a range of health, financial and educational resources, plus wellness events.

EPIC, the Entain Foundation US and the NFLPA/PAF helped the NFL become the first professional US sports league to run a problem gambling education and awareness program in July 2020.

Martin Lycka, Entain’s Senior Vice President for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling and Trustee of Entain Foundation US, noted: “Entain Foundation US is proud to support EPIC Risk Management in their delivery of problem gambling awareness and player protection workshops to the Professional Athletes Foundation.

“We are glad that the funding provided by Entain Foundation US has helped EPIC, the global leaders in delivery of gambling harm prevention education and advisory, to have such a huge impact on one of the highest-risk populations.”

Last October, the NFLPA teamed up with Kindbridge to create the “first-of-its-kind mental health program” to discuss several topics including problem gambling.